The summer window is shut but planning for January is firmly underway at Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham. The Gunners missed out on Vinicius Jr, but it has now emerged that his Real Madrid team-mates expected him to leave. That ship may now have sailed, with Eli Junior Kroupi, who is currently sidelined with an injury, the new key target, but as Barcelona end their interest in Julian Alvarez, the Gunners could get a free run at the summer target.
Arsenal get free run at Julian Alvarez
Barcelona have ruled out a move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez in the upcoming transfer window, according to Fichajes. The decision can be seen as a boost for Arsenal, who tried and failed to convince the Argentine to join during the final days of the window. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly made a left-sided centre-back the club’s priority, with the attack considered well covered after Raphinha’s strong start to the season. Alvarez’s representatives are expected to assess his situation over the coming months.
Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea targets
Man Utd also failed to land their top target of Lewis Hall, and are now said to have moved on to Tyrick Mitchell as a target for left-back after his remarkable start to the season. Liverpool are also credited with interest. Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub is also of interest as JJ Gabriel heads for the exit door, with Real Madrid and Barcelona leading the chase, but Chelsea also in the mix. The Blues have plenty of targets for January, including Alex Scott, Adam Wharton, Lamine Camara and Rayan.
Liverpool are monitoring Mitchell, along with Bayer Leverkusen defender Givairo Read, who also has admirers at Arsenal. Tottenham want to reignite their interest in Morgan Gibbs-White, who is valued to £125m, while Richarlison looks out of options after UAE side Shabab Al Ahli failed to agree a fee with Spurs for the outcast striker.
Gabriel Martinelli plan revealed after Arsenal exit
Gabriel Martinelli "dreams of returning" to one of his former clubs - but it is not Arsenal. The winger left the Gunners over the summer to join Al-Hilal in a £60million move, making him Arsenal's record sale. Martinelli's contract in Saudi Arabia runs through to 2030, but his agent Marcos Casseb is already looking at the future beyond that. Corinthians are the club Martinelli grew up supporting and he spent four years at the club's academy after joining at the age of six.
Asked if Martinelli wanted to return to Brazil before he retired, Casseb told Brazilian news outlet Itatiaia Esporte: "I think a little further down the line, yes. He has four years left on his contract there, until he's 29. He does dream of returning, playing for Corinthians, the club he left, his passion. He wants to come back someday. He has every chance of returning to the Brazilian national team. What he needs is to perform his football well."
Latest Chelsea and Arsenal transfer rumours
Chelsea’s slow start to the Premier League season under Xabi Alonso has set the rumour mill spinning apace, with speculation as to their January targets rife. That comes in spite of their typically heavy summer spend, which saw the likes of Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra added to Xabi Alonso’s ranks, at great expense. Even still, it appears further defensive and midfield reinforcements may be needed, as the Blues struggle to plug their leaky back line.
With the summer transfer window long closed, Arsenal are looking ahead to January as club executives ponder how to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad. The scouts are as busy as ever, highlighting talented targets across Europe as contract talks are held back home. Transfers are still being sealed at Colney, where striker Vincent Joseph was added to the academy ranks this week, while reports continue to proliferate suggesting interest in the likes of Eli Junior Kroupi, Rio Ngumoha, and, of course, Julian Alvarez.
Kane keen on MLS switch
Harry Kane has heavily hinted he would like to end his football career in the MLS — and then get "serious" about becoming an NFL kicker. The England captain has spoken for the first time in years about converting to American football once he has retired, and says it remains his dream. But Kane has now also dropped a strong suggestion that he is eyeing up a move to the MLS before he hangs up his boots in the sport that made him a household name.
After joking that watching professional golfers made him rule out that post-career path, Kane was reminded of his previous retirement plan of a move into the NFL. "That is something I will try and look at a bit more seriously," Kane said. "It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five or six years, the motivation, and what I want to do. The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let’s put it that way."
Rooney makes shock JJ Gabriel claim as Man Utd update revealed
Wayne Rooney has revealed that JJ Gabriel's Manchester United exit has been coming for some time. Gabriel, 15, has told United he wants to leave Old Trafford, with a move to Spain reportedly among his preferred options. Real Madrid and Barcelona are understood to be monitoring the situation. Rooney, speaking on Stick to United, insists United have done everything possible to convince the teenager to stay.
"I think that anyone close to it knew that was coming," Rooney admitted. "In fairness to Manchester United, they've done everything, they've done absolutely everything to keep him, to keep him at the club. I think it's been known that there's been a desire to go and play probably in Spain, I think, I might be wrong, but this is what you've heard over the years. The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special talent."
Free agents Arsenal could sign
Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton at the weekend has focused attention on the gaps in their squad heading into the international break. The defending Premier League champions have slipped three points behind title rivals Manchester City and some fans fear that could get worse if obvious issues aren’t addressed. Prime among them is a lack of depth in the centre-forward and left-wing positions.
Kai Havertz has started every Premier League game at the head of the attack so far and it appears Mikel Arteta is lacking trust in Viktor Gyokeres. Meanwhile, the left-hand side – which saw Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli depart in the summer transfer window – seems to be relying heavily on new boy Christos Tzolis. And while the transfer window may be closed until January, the Gunners do have the option of moving into the free-agent market.
Tottenham given Pochettino verdict after De Zerbi sacking movements
Tottenham fans would happily see Roberto De Zerbi sacked if it meant Mauricio Pochettino returned as manager. That is according to former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood, who has suggested that the heavy summer spending in north London is putting pressure on De Zerbi. The club enjoyed their most consistent results during a five-and-a-half-year spell with Pochettino as manager, who was sacked in 2019 less than six months after reaching the Champions League final.
"Tottenham fans would take Mauricio Pochettino over Roberto De Zerbi - but it's a completely different team," he told MaxFreeBets. "Pochettino did well in the past, but this is a different playing squad to what he had, his squad looked like a real Champions League squad compared to this one, and he still never won anything. But he was very good. I liked what he did at Tottenham to finish runners-up once and third another time and he had them in the Champions League final without getting over the line. I mean, Tottenham fans would take that now, don't get me wrong, but this is a completely different playing staff to what he had then. So it all depends. If they continue spending the money, anyone will have a job at Tottenham."
Danny Murphy says he would also not rule out a Tottenham return for Mauricio Pochettino. "I'm a huge fan of Pochettino," he told Snabbare. "I think what he did at Tottenham was nothing short of incredible, considering what he had to work with and how little money he spent. He got them to title contenders and a Champions League final, and built a wonderful team. He was unfortunate with the timing around the stadium build and all those things, as he wasn't given the finances current Tottenham managers are receiving. You tend to think, what could he have done if he had been given that backing? There'll always be that conversation, and even when the rumours were there before, a lot of Tottenham fans I know were more than happy to have him back for obvious reasons. He plays good football, he's a likable guy, and he speaks honestly. I think he's probably a better manager now because of the experience he's had since leaving, working with superstars and taking on an international job. I could definitely see it happening. The only reason it wouldn't is if De Zerbi picks up and Tottenham go on to have lots of success, then he stays in the job, doesn't he? Simple as that. But otherwise, they’d absolutely love to see him back."
Arsenal and Chelsea monitor Gjivai Zechiel
Arsenal and Chelsea are closely monitoring Feyenoord midfielder Gjivai Zechiel ahead of the January transfer window. According to CaughtOffside, both clubs have watched the 22-year-old closely after his impressive start to the season. Zechiel has scored five goals and provided four assists in seven Eredivisie appearances. Feyenoord rejected a €17m (£14.5m) offer from Lille during the summer, including bonuses, and are not prepared to let Zechiel leave cheaply. The midfielder is under contract until 2029.
